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How do I stop an application from starting when Windows XP boots?

I am just sick of all these stupid helper apps that launch every time I start up Microsoft Windows XP!! Half of them are for hardware or utilities that I don't even use any more! How the heck do I zap 'em?


Dave's Answer:

This is perhaps one of the great challenges of customizing Windows XP, actually, being able to retain control over what applications start and run when you boot up your computer. Ignore the issue and over time you find that more and more applications start up and gradually slow down your computer until not only does it take forever to start your computer, but it runs glacially anyway. Not good.

Problem is that unless you know where these startup apps are stored and how to modify the Start menu, you'll likely to throw your hands up in disgust and succumb to the random slowdown. Or download suspicious apps that are supposed to "control" your startup but might well inject their own spyware or malware into your system too.

So let me solve this problem and show you how to delete apps that are part of your startup process!

Fortunately (I think) there's an app on my main Windows XP system that has been bugging me and I've wanted to delete anyway: the BlackBerry Desktop Manager:

unwanted

I haven't used a BlackBerry for at least sixteen months (ever since I got my first Apple iPhone, actually) so why the heck, sixteen months later, am I still running this goofy app and having to quit it each time I start up my PC? Sheesh!

To delete it you need to go to the Start Menu, then find Start --> All Programs --> Startup:

all progs startup

Here's the secret: right click on the item in that Startup menu that is the app you want to delete. Like this:

all progs right click

Lots on that contextual menu, but notice "Delete". Yes, by deleting this from the Startup menu, you also actually stop this application or utility from launching when you boot up Microsoft Windows XP! In fact, it kinda tells you that:

confirm delete

To actually delete the program itself, you need to go back to the START menu and choose Control Panels:

start control panels

Now you want to go to "Add or Remove Programs":

add or remove programs

And, finally, scroll down and choose the specific app you want to axe:

add delete blackberry

Click "Remove" and... a few minutes later, you're done!

That should help you wrestle your startup sequence back under control.



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Comments

Unfortunately, the startup folder is only one of several places that such programs an be found. Another common place is in the registry, under:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

Note, however, that removing the wrong thing from that registry entry can disable the computer, or at least some parts of it. If you're not sure of what you're doing in the registry -- don't do it.

Finally, there are programs that you still use, but not frequently enough that you want them loaded on startup. (QuickTime and OpenOffice.org launcher come to mind.) For those, there are usually program-specific methods to say "don't load on startup".

Posted by: Ken B at August 26, 2008 10:00 AM

For Windows XP and Vista, Click Start then run then msconfig(in Vista type msconfig into start search area then click msconfig.exe at the top). Then in msconfig click on startup tab, then remove (uncheck) all startup items except your antivirus program. When restarting your computer uncheck the box on the popup which will come up mentioning your changes.

Posted by: Jon J at August 27, 2008 12:56 AM

I have advertising all over my home page. It does not come up in the square provided by vista, in fact the words and pictures from the ads are dotted over the entire page, how do I get rid of it?

Posted by: Linda Denson at September 7, 2008 5:21 PM


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